Kartik festivals in Vrindavan

I arrived in Vrindavan on the 18th of October - just in time for Govardhana Puja.......

For this occasion I took the opportunity to go out to ISKCON's Govardhana Palace at Govardhana Hill. It had been a number of years since I had been out here, and thus I deeply desired for such an opportunity. I had the good fortune to get a lift with senior lady disciples of Srila Prabhupada - Vishaka, Malati and Nirakula Matajis, whose association I valued. We left Vrindavan in the early morning, and on our arrival Devamrta Maharaja was giving a nice lecture on the lila of Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill. Even though we have heard it so many times - nevertheless, it is ever fresh and enchanting to our hearts..... 
Maharaja elaborated on the subtle point of how much faith the inhabitants of Vrindavan had in Krishna in order to agree to take shelter underneath Govardhana Hill.
A number of senior devotees had decided to spend Govardhana Puja here at Govardhana Palace - Keshava Bharati Maharaja, Bhurijana Prabhu, Vaisesika Prabhu and others, and I felt privileged to be in their association.
It was nice to chant some rounds taking darshan of Govardhana Hill while trying to comprehend my good fortune to be here at this sacred place.....!

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For the abhisheka we were going across the road to Govardhana Hill and bathing Giriraja directly! How wonderful! Vaisesika Prabhu lead us in kirtan, and everyone had a turn to bathe Giriraja Govardhana. The caranamrta was collected in a little hole in the ground - a cow was coming and also eagerly honoring it....! And many delicious preparations were carried to Giriraja and directly offered to Him.

I met a number of devotees who I had not met for some time - Kartik always brings about such nice surprises! The festivities were concluded with a big feast, which was of course not so much according to my diet....

Three days later we observed Srila Prabhupada's disappearance festival. Since it was the 40th anniversary of this occasion the arrangements were especially wonderful, and for several days there were glorifications and remembrances by many of his disciples, who had assembled from all around the world. The festivities took place in the huge Krishna Hall, which was packed with eager devotees. Srutakirti Prabhu had accepted the service of being the MC, and this year the alotted time for each speaker was kept very strictly to five minutes only, which inspired the speakers to be very concise and to the point, and thus the talks were very sweet and deep. With wrapped attention I was attending these glorification all day - the morning sessions, and again in the afternoon. One evening Vishaka Mataji showed some clips of their new film about Srila Prabhupada and was sharing informations and realizations while making the movie, which was very interesting and moving to the heart. I usually am not so fond of watching things on the screen - except Srila Prabhupada, who instantly brings tears to my eyes....

In the afternoon of Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day I visited his quarters - the very place where he had left this world. On this occasion his rooms and bedstead are always wonderfully decorated with flowers. One young devotee, Manu Prabhu from Radhadesh started a very sweet and deep kirtan - full of lamentation - and I spontaneously decided not to attend the glorifications at the Krishna Hall, but remained in the kirtan. It was exactly what my heart had been longing for - to be in a sweet and meditative kirtan in Srila Prabhupada's room, which over the years had become my favorite place of pilgrimage in Vrindavan! I stayed there until 7:25 pm, when devotees conducted an artik and further kirtan to remember Srila Prabhupada's departure.......

It had been a most wonderful festival for Prabhupada's disappearance, deepening my relationship with Srila Prabhupada and feeling increasingly dependent on his mercy and guidance - maybe the best festival I had ever attended! Vrindavan is certainly the most wonderful place to be on this occasions - Srila Prabhupada's home, where he had desired to depart from this world..............

Gopasthami was also a sweet event, with Srimati Radharani being dressed up as a jolly cowherd boy, showing her Lotus feet. HH Bhakti Rasamrta Maharaja was giving the morning class at the goshala, sharing the pastime when Krishna was turning old enough to herd the cows. Gunarnava Prabhu also spoke, sharing how Srila Prabhupada had ordered him to start the goshala in Vrindavan in the early days. Even though devotees were so young in Krishna consciousness and rather inexperienced, nevertheless, on Srila Prabhupada's order and empowerment they performed such wonderful service....!

On the 2nd of November I flew off to Chandigarh.....

Your servant, Devaki dd